Washing-machine gearing.



H. L. ST ALEY. WASHING MACHINE GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1909. 958,189, Patented May 17, 1910.

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' H. L. STALEY. WASHING MACHINE GEARING. APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 27, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.'

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' WITNESSES.-

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riAanIs'oN L. STALEY, or MAn'rINsvILnn, INDIANA, AssIGNor. To s'rALnYmANU- IACTURING COMPANY, or MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

"W ASHIN G-MACI-IIN E GEARING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON L. STALEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at accompanying drawings, and to the characters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification. This invention relates to gearing for I Washing-machines of the type comprising v tubs having hinged covers on which the rubbing apparatus is mounted, the invention having reference particularly to a balanced lev'er o'perated'gearing fol-operating the rubbing apparatus.

The object of the invention primarily is to provide powerfuland therefore easily operated gearing comprising a relatively 'heavy balance wheel, for the above men tioned class of washing machines, that will be adapted to be constructed and arranged so that the cover need not be burdened with excessive weight of machinery, in order to permit the cover and the rubbing apparatus to be easily tilted .over on its hinges, a particular object being to provide improvements in oscillatory rotary gearing of the type shown in Letters Patent No. 903,(3l3, granted to me November 10, 1908, or gearing in which a shaft is mounted horizontally on the cover to rotate continuously and drivea vertical shaft and rubbing apparatus mounted also onthe cover to oscillate or move back and forth rotatively. The presentinvention being designed in detail for use particularly with the gearing shown in aid Letters Patent, in order to illustrate did explain the purposes and functions of the present improvements, the gearing in said Letters Patent is briefly shown and die scribed herein and comprises a rotative driving shaft, an agitator shaft for operating the rubbing apparatus, and a gearing connecting the driving shaft and the agitator shaft for can ng the latter shaft 'to'\ move back and forth rotatively or oscillate and also to advance forward rotatively at each alternate oscillation, so that when op erating the driving shaft by hand, and especially by means of a powerful lever, un-

steadiness of motion results with consequent Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 27, 1909. Serial No. 534,943.

Patented Mayfl, 1910.

loss of energy in overcoming the vibrations, and therefore the specific purpose of the present invention is to provide improved lever gearing including a relatively heavy balance wheel whereby steady and uniform o rotary movement of the driving shaft may be produced, a further object being to so construct and mount the gearing that the heavier portions thereof may be supported on the tub and be connected removably by the driving shaft mounted on the cover of the tub.

The invention consists of improved gearing comprising a prime mover and a balance wheel operated thereby adapted to be supported on the wash tub and to be connected by gearing mounted on a hinged cover of the tub; and the invention consists further in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter parti'cularly described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the washing machine pro-- vided with'the improved gearing; Fig. 2, a so side elevation of the machine with the cover tilted back so that parts of the gearing are disconnected from other parts thereof; Fig.

3, a fragmentary top plan of the tub and the gearing thereon; Fig. a top plan of the 815 movable part of the cover and parts of the gearing thereon; Fig. 5, a fragmentary side elevation of the tub and cover and portions of the gearing thereon; Fig. 6, a fragmentary elevation of the tub, and the frame pOr-. 9o tions of the gearing thereon; Fig. 7 a fragmentary elevation of the tub. and cover on which the gearing is mounted and shown partly in section; Fig. 8, a fragmentary horizontal section' of the tub and gearing thereon at the axis of the balance wheel; Fig. 9, a top plan of the principal parts of the oscillatory rotary gearing; and Fig. 10, a vertical sectional view of the oscillatory. rotary gearing and housing thereof.

In the difierent' figures of the drawings similar ref rence characters indicate like -.elements or features of construction herein referred to.

In attaining the primar Object of the present invention a wash ta 1 is employed, on which is a stationary cover part 2 p'rovided with hinges 3, 3, and a stop-block. 4, a movable cover part 5 being attached to the hinges and adapted to swing upward and 110 9 her of gear teeth 34 on the rib 32, the teeth latory gearing described in'said Letters Pata journal-box 7 that extends into the aperside thereof in inclined position, said lower part having an arm 14 thereon that is protuting a guidq-pin 20. The upper part of "the housing has a guide-rail 21 on its inner' be rotated thereby,the plate having a suit- A rolling gear segment comprises a circular journal-boxes 16 and 17 in which a driving into the tub, the shaft having a hub 23 4 thereon that is provided with ribs24 and a ally from the rim 32 and have a guide-rail tends from the plate 31 at the opposite side theguide-rails 13 or 21 to guide the gear segment and assist in maintaining the conback against the stop block, the cover part 5 having an aperture 5 therein. The oscil-' ent No. 903,613, is linelosedin a housing comprising two similar parts arranged one upon the other, the lower part comprising a bottom 6 secured on the cover part 5 and having ture 5, a bowl shaped wall 8 extending upward from the bottom. The upper part comprises a wall 9 that is secured by bolts 10 to the lower part and has'a top 11 that is provided with a journal-box 12 in alinement with the journal-box 7. The lower part of the housing has a guide-rail 13 on the inner vided with a standard 15 having a foot 15 whereby it is suitably secured to the cover part 5, the arm being provided with two shaft 18 is journaled and extends beyond the journal-boxes to rotate continuously, the inner end of the shaft having a .dished long toothed pinion 19 thereon, the shaft extending through the pinion and its end constiside and opposite tothe guide-rail 13. A shaft 22 is mountedyertically in the journalboxes 7 and 12 to rotate therein and extends collar 25 at the lower end of the hub, there being a rubbing, plate 26 mounted on the hub, so as to move vertically thereon and plate 31 having a rim 32 thereon and a central: guide opening 33 through which the shaft 22 extends, there being-a suitable numbeing arranged in a circle of greater diameter than the pitch-line of the'teeth 30. A' suitable number of pin teeth 35 extend radi- 36 on their ends.' The plate 31 is arranged between the conical guides 28 and 29 and may roll thereon while the teeth 35 are inengagement with the pinion 19, alternately above and below the pinion. An arm 37 exthereof from the pin-teeth and has a guideroller 38 on its end that is adapted to roll on nection between the teeth of the gear seg-l ment and the driving inion during reversing movements especia ly. A pair of crescent shaped reversing guides 39 and 40 are mounted on the plate 31 opposite the terminal teeth 35 of the group and are adapted to engage the guide-pin 20 when the gear segment is being reversed in motion. Fig; 9 shows the plate 31 inclined in one direction and Fig. 10 shows it inclined in the opposite direction. In the operation of said oscil latory rotary gearing increased power and speed and balancing is desired to act on the driving shaft above that which may be obtained in rotating the driving shaft directly by hand, especially during the revers-. ing operations of the agitator shaft at which periods the plate 31 is caused to change its direction of motion.

The present invention as preferably constructed comprises a wheel 41 secured to theouter end of the shaft l8'and provided with spur-teeth 41, the wheel being of suitable diameter to enable it to turn the shaft steadily, and the wheel is provided with a guard 42 that extends over the upper and side portions thereof and down substantially to the the plane of the top of the cover part 5, the

guard being provided with two base plates 43 and 43 that are arranged at opposite sides of the foot 15 in contact therewith and secured to the upper side of the cover part 5, the lower ends of the guard having outwardly extending aprons 44 and 44 thereon to cover upper portions of the main driving gear-wheel.

-A suitable base'plate 45 is provided which is suitably curved,so as to extend horizontally along the outer side of the tub 1 to which it is secured and has a long stud axle 46 and also a relatively short stud-axle 4T thereon, and. on the latter is rotatably mounted a main driving gear-wheel 48 provided with spur teeth 48- that normally mesh wit-h the spur teeth 41 of the wheel 41, the wheel 48 being provided with a crank-pin 49, so that it serves as a crank-wheel. A fulcrum 50 having-a base-plate 51 is secured thereby to the outer side of the'tub 1 below the base-plate 45 and has a pivot hole 52 therein, the arrangement being such that the stud axles 4(3 and 47 are arranged in one horizontal plane and the pivot hole 52 some what below and nearly in the vertical plane of the stud-axle '47, all being on the upper portion of the side of the tub. The fulcrum is'provided witha pivot pin 53, and a lever 54 having a curved lower portion 55,

nected by means of the jaw and the pivot pin to the fulcrum and so that the main part 'which is provided with a jaw 56, is conofthe lever stands away somewhat from the wheel 48, the upper end of the lever being provided with a socket 57 in which is an operating handle or bar 58.= The middle portion of the lever is provided with a pivotit is connected to the pivot pin 59, the other end of the rod being connected to the crankpin 49, the arrangement being such that theleverprojects upward; above the plane of the top of the tub and may be moved forward and backward with an easy swinging motion of the body of the operator without being tiresome.

In order to carry thecrank-pin 49 overthe dead-centers and'insure steady :notion, a relatively large and heavy balancewheel 61 is mounted rotatably on the studaxle 46 and has a relatively long hub 61 provided with spurteeth 63 that are in mesh with the teeth 48 of the main driving .wheel, therefore constituting a relatively small pin-' ion whereby the main driving gear-wheel rotating at moderate speed may rotateithe balance wheel at relatively high speed and, as will be seen, the wheel 41 being less in diameter than the wheel 48- is driven at somewhat higher speed relatively to the rate of movement of the operating lever, the latter being of sufiicient length to-provide ample power for the service required.

In practical use the coverpart 5 is first tilted back, as shown in Fig. 2, and then the tub is partially filled with washing liqiiid and the articles'to be washed, after which the cover part is moved down onto the top of the tub or vessel to its normal position and the teeth 41 brought into mesh with the teeth 48. The handle 58 may then be operated by hand, so as to rotate the mam driving gear-wheed 4 8 in either direction, and this wheel in turn will rotate the wheel 41 and the shaft 18 and also the balancewheel 61, the shaft operating the gear segment which in turn operates the agitator 'shaft and thereby the plate 26, all of which may be accomplished as may be seen with the minimum amount of exertion. When the clothes have been ;rubbed sufficiently the cover art 5 may be a ain tilted back with little e ort, so as to isconnect the wheel 41 from the wheel 48, the heavier parts of the mechanism remaining idly on the tub. '5. i

Having thus described the invention, whatis claimed as new, is-

l. Gearing including a fixed support, a

movable support, a balance-wheel mounted on the fixed support, a rotative gear-wheel on the movable support, a driving gear-wheel mounted on the fixed support and connected -operatively with the balance-wheel and removably connected with the rotative gearwheel, and means for connecting the movable support removably to the fixed support to remove the rotative gear-wheel from connection with the driving gear-wheel.

2. Machine gearing including a fixed support, a movable support hinge t0 the fixed support, a driving gear-wheel and a lever mounted on the fixed support, a pit-man connecting the driving gear-wheel withthe lever, a' balance-wheel mounted on the fixed support and having a pinion thereon in contact with the driving gear-wheel, a. driving shaft rotatable on the movable support, and a gearwheel on the driving shaft removably connected with the driving gear-wheel.

3. Machine gearing including an oscillatory prime mover, a driven shaft mounted rotatively, a balance-wheel mo'unted rotatively, and relatively dissimilar operating means including a vibratory device opera- ,tively connected with the prime mover and the driven shaft and also with the balancewheel, for converting the oscillatory motion of the prime mover into continuous rotary mot-ion and the continuous rotary motion into oscillatory-rotary motion, to. move the driven shaft rotatively forward and backward alternately and farther in one direction than in the reverse direction, and to rotate the balance wheel continuousl for st'eadying the movements of the dissimilar operating means.

4. Machine gearing including a stationary support, a movable support hinged to the ,stationary support, a lever mounted on the stationary sup ort, a toothed driving gearwheel mounte support and connected operatively with the lever, a balance-wheel mounted rotatably on the stationary su port and operatively'connected with the driving gear-wheel, a driving shaft rotative on the movable support and having a toothed gear-wheel secured thereto in contact with the driving gearwheel and movable from said contact on movement of the movable support, and a driven shaft mounted on the movable support and tgi'eratively connected with the riving sha bination of a stationary'support, two stud axles and also a fulcrum mounted on the stationary support, a driving gear-wheel mounted on one of the stud-axles and having a crank-pinthereon, a lever mounted on the -fulcrum, a pitman connected to the lever and also tothe crank-pin, a balance wheel mounted on the other one of the stud axles, a pinion on the balance-wheel and in contact with the driving gear-wheel, a movable support hinged to the stationary sup ort, a driven shaft mounted on the mova is support, a driving shaft mounted rotatively on the movable support and connected with the driven shaft, and a gear-wheel secured to the driving shaft in contact with the driving gear-wheel and removable therefrom by the movable sup ort moving on 1ts hinges.

6. In was ing machine gearing, the combination with a stationary support, hinges secured on the support, a movable support rotatably on the stationary 5. In washing machine gearing, the com- 1 ed on the movable support, two cones secured attached to the hinges, a driven shaft mountto the driven shaft, a gear segment loose on the driven shaft between the cones, means i for connecting the gear segment with the 1 shaft, guides for the gear segment, a main shaft mounted on the stationary support,

y and a pinion secured to one end of the main shaft in contact Withthe gear segment, of a frame base secured to the stationary support, two stud axles on the base in one horizontal plane, a driving gear-wheel rotative on oneofthe' stud axles, a balance-Wheel rotative on the other one of the stud axles, a pinion on the balance-Wheel in contact with the driving gear-wheel, a crank-pin carried by the drlving gear-Wheel, a fulcrum mounted on the stationary below the flame of the'stud axles, a lever mounted pivotally on the fulcrum, -a pitman connected to the lever- In t'estim f y whereof, aflix my signature in presence, of two Witnesses.

" I HARRISON L. STALEY.

' "t Vitne'sses: z CHARLES A. HUBBARD,

CLARENCE N. S HNAITE 

